Tankers of the Russian «shadow fleet» attacked in the Black Sea near Novorossiysk
The media spread video of a drone attack on a tanker of the so-called «shadow fleet» of russia. Based on available information, four vessels were attacked near Novorossiysk yesterday.
What we know about the vessels
According to Bloomberg, tankers attacked owned by Greek shipping companies and were heading to Novorossiysk to oil loading. This is an area that is a key logistics hub for Russian oil exports, in particular through the infrastructure of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
No official comments from the Russian side on the extent of the damage or possible oil leaks have been made public.
Context.
Russia is actively using the so-called «shadow fleet» to circumvent international sanctions on oil exports. It includes tankers with opaque ownership structures that frequently change flags and routes.
Recent months Attacks on Russian maritime logistics in the Black Sea have become more frequent, This creates additional risks for Russian energy exports and international shipping companies that continue to cooperate with Russia.
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